UNIT 1:  FOUNDATIONS OF JUDAISM

Jewish history
            Tanakh
            Philosophical and rabbinic Judaism
            Medieval Judaism
            Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative Judaism

Review and discussion:  The Source, “The Tell” through “The Law”

Test 1:  review program 

 UNIT 2:  MODERN JUDAISM 

Judaism today
            Basic beliefs
            Worship
            The Jewish calendar
            The Jewish life cycle and the family
            The Holocaust, Zionism, Israel and Palestine

Review and discussion:  The Source, “A Day in the Life of a Desert Rider”
            through “The Tell” 

 Test 2, including map of Judaism:  review program

UNIT 3:  FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAM

Islamic history
            Pre-Islamic Arabia
            Muhammad
            Expansion of the umma

Review and discussion:  The Qur'an, Surahs 1-4

Test 3:  review program

UNIT 4:  MODERN ISLAM

Islam today
            Basic beliefs and worship practices
            Qur’an and Hadith
            The Islamic life cycle and the family
            Islam and the modern world

Review and discussion:  The Qur’an, Surahs 5-7         

Final exam:  review program   

                                                                  TEXTBOOKS

Trepp, Leo.  Judaism:  Development and Life.  4^th ed. 
            Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth, 2000.

Michener, James A.  The Source.  New York:  Fawcett Crest, 1976.

Denny, Frederick M.  An Introduction to Islam.  3rd ed.
            Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 2005..

The Koran.  Trans. N. J. Dawood.  5th ed.  New York:  Penguin, 1990. 

You don’t need to bring a Bible to class, but you may want to look up references at home.  In class, I will be using Tanakh:  The Holy Scriptures.  Philadelphia:  Jewish Publication Society, 1985.

GOALS

            In this course, we'll explore together the contributions of Judaism and Islam to insights in the world’s living religions.  We will become aware of the rich variety of patterns in the “Middle East mosaic” by looking at Jewish and Muslim stories, teachings, ritual actions, and individual leaders.  We'll pay special attention to the religious dimensions of cultural and political conflicts in the Middle East today.

LOGS

            Short writing assignments will give you opportunities to reflect on ideas which you encounter.  These “logs” will also give you ways to express your reflections in writing.  You will choose three of the four possibilities for logs.  During the first two units, you may choose to write logs on ideas from the assigned chapters in Michener's historical novel.  During the last two units, you may choose to write logs on ideas in the listed sections of the Qur'an.  Even though you won’t write logs on all four of these readings, you will be responsible for reading them, and you will be tested on all four. 

STUDY METHODS

            You'll understand Judaism and Islam best if you spend at least an hour in study before each class. I recommend the following schedule.  Before class, read through your lecture notes for the previous session and the material in the textbook which goes beyond that lecture.  Soon after the class session, put your notes on the lecture or discussion in a clear form that you can use later.  You may want to store them on a computer disk so that you can revise them easily, filling in gaps or making corrections. Study carefully the sections of the textbook and the Bible or the Qur’an that are related to your lecture notes, so that you have a thorough understanding.

            For each unit, I have developed a computer review of some of the main persons and historical events that we’ve studied during the unit.  I recommend going through the unit review before each test. Click on the appropriate link in the schedule above for the individual review, or go to my Home Page, which has links to all the review programs. 

            If you have any questions, please call me at extension 6150, send your questions to me by email, or come by my office in Wiley 219.  I enjoy discussing religious questions!

CLASS PARTICIPATION

               Attendance.  I value faithful attendance highly, as an indication of your commitment to the course goals, so any unexcused absences not made up (after the first) will result in a significant lowering of your participation grade.  On rare occasions you may have to miss class.  Please get someone's notes, study the assigned reading, and ask me about anything that needs explanation.  I want you to keep up with the rest of the group in your understanding. 

            Extra credit.  If you really want to boost your class participation grade, here’s how.  During the semester we may have one or more lyceum programs which help you to see some relationships to what you’ve been studying about Judaism or Islam. You may have an opportunity to visit a mosque or a synagogue. You may also watch one of the thought-provoking videos in our library that relate directly to the course.  You may be involved in a community service project with religious implications.  If you want me to consider awarding extra credit for any such activity, write a short paper of a paragraph or two, showing how it relates to Religion 211. 

EVALUATION

            My grading scale is:  A = 90‑99, B = 80‑89, C = 70‑79, D = 60‑69, F = below 60. 

Here’s how I’ll calculate your course average:
‑‑ the best two of the three tests (1/5 each)
-‑ final exam (1/5)
‑‑ the quality and timeliness of your logs (1/5)
‑‑ class participation (1/5)

            The Middle East is the mother of many of the world's deepest religious insights and most beautiful ceremonies.  I look forward to sharing with you in studying these tradi­tions and in seeing their relevance to us today!

            A good collection of information and texts from Judaism and Islam has been compiled by David Wiley. There is an excellent Web site on the Islamic Foundation of America. I've also found excellent information on Judaism in general, Reform Judaism, Orthodox Judaism, and the Torah.

If you wish, you can send me e-mail: fkellogg@ehc.edu

To look at one of my other syllabi, go to my Home Page.

To review a unit in the course, go directly to one of the following:

    Unit 1, Foundations of Judaism
    Unit 2, Modern Judaism
    Unit 3, Foundations of Islam
    Unit 4, Modern Islam

If you prefer, you may return to the Emory & Henry College Home Page.

Last updated:  August 08, 2007